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How do I know if I need slipped disc treatment?

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It’s important to see a medical professional for neck or back pain that lasts longer than a few days or a week. However, many people end up waiting several weeks or months before reporting their neck or back pain to a physician. Unfortunately, waiting too long to seek treatment can cause the condition to worsen and make the therapeutic process harder than it needs to be. The following information can help you better understand the indications that your pain or other symptoms are being caused by a spine condition so you can get the help you need as early as possible.

Signs that you might need slipped disc treatment

A slipped disc is a nonmedical term sometimes used to describe conditions like bulging or herniated discs. Your doctor can diagnose the actual cause of your symptoms and recommend the best treatment options. If you’re wondering whether your neck or back pain may be caused by a slipped disc, ask yourself these questions:

Do you have localized pain in your neck or lower back that has persisted for more than a few days?

Have you noticed any tingling sensations in your arms, hands, legs or feet?

Have you experienced any numbness — either intermittent or periodic — in your limbs or extremities?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, it might be time to make an appointment with your doctor. He or she can review your symptoms and help you determine if a degenerative spine condition might be the cause of your discomfort.

Signs you need emergency medical intervention

Seldom does a slipped disc become a medical emergency. However, if a slipped disc compresses the nerves at the end of the spinal cord, it can cause cauda equina syndrome, which requires immediate medical attention. Bladder dysfunction, loss of bowel control or an inability to move your legs are indications that you should immediately seek emergency slipped disc treatment.

Laser Spine Institute

In normal cases, spinal disc conditions can often be successfully treated with conservative therapies like over-the-counter medication, exercise, periods of rest, hot/cold therapy and epidural steroid injections. Surgery is usually considered only if a full course of conservative treatments do not relieve symptoms. If you are ever considering spine surgery, reach out to Laser Spine Institute to learn more about our outpatient procedures and the advantages they can offer patients.

We are happy to offer a no-cost MRI or CT scan review* to determine if you may be a candidate for one of our procedures.

*Our MRI review is an informational review of the MRI report that you provide to us and is not a form of diagnosis. A diagnosis and a final determination of whether you may benefit from treatment at Laser Spine Institute can only be made after you have been physically examined by our medical professionals at Laser Spine Institute. The MRI review has no value and will not be billed.